International Trade

In response recent public statements made by President Trump and members of his Cabinet indicating that the U.S. may withdraw from NAFTA, Western Growers sent a letter urging the Administration to modernize, not terminate NAFTA.

In the letter, WG President and CEO Tom Nassif cites the economic benefits that NAFTA has provided the domestic fresh produce industry and stated, “…withdrawing from NAFTA is not an option. The disruption created from such a move would be a disaster for U.S. produce companies.”

Today, Congress was formally notified by the Trump administration of its intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The notification is necessary to begin a 90-day consultation process with Congress. The administration previously indicated that it would seek to renegotiate a better trade deal with both Mexico and Canada in lieu of formally withdrawing from the trade agreement; however the president did leave open the possibility that he would withdraw from the agreement entirely should a better deal for the U.S. not be reached.

On March 17, 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a second 60-day stay on the effective date of its final rule, published on December 23, 2016, to allow the importation of fresh lemons from northwest Argentina into the continental United States.

No details were provided in the announcement as to the reason for the second 60-day stay.